Bifurcated hosiery with suspension means



Se t. 16, 1969 1.. A. RO$NER BIFURCATED HOSIERY WITH SUSPENSION MEANS Filed March 1. 1968 INVENTOR:

LEONARD A. ROSNER United States Patent 3,466,667 BIFURCATED HOSIERY WITH SUSPENSION MEANS Leonard A. Rosner, Great Neck, N.Y. Glamorise Foundation, Inc., 135 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 709,738 Int. Cl. A41b 11/00; A41c 1/00; A41f 9/00 US. Cl. 2240 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bifurcated hosiery consisting of a pair of long hose connected together by a crotch member, the hosiery being worn under a girdle-type garment which has a crotch piece underlying the crotch member of the hosiery to retain the same in position. Separable fastener means and/ or a circumferential elastic friction band react between the upper edge portion of the hosiery and the inside of the girdle-type garment to resist relative displacement thereof.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ladies hosiery and in particular the invention concerns itself with relatively long hose for wear under currently popular short skirts, although the skirt length is unimportant in the overall utility of the invention.

L'ong hose for shirt skirt wear have been embodied into a so-called panty-hose wherein the hose or stockings are joined to or form integral extensions of a panty which reaches up to the waist. While such panty-hose are generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, they possess certain disadvantages in that the panty portion often becomes displaced on the body and the hose portions then become sagged or twisted. Also, it is difficult and often impractical to wear such panty-hose in conjunction with a girdle such as is usually desirable for proper support, shaping and slimness of the torso, inasmuch as undue bulkiness is created and, particularly in the waist region, a desirable supporting contact of the girdle with the skin is lost. As an alternative to panty-hose, the use of conventional long stockings necessities conventional garters for stocking suspension and here again, bulky conventional garters produce noticeable bulges in the region of the thighs and also, very often the stockings are not supported with the desired smoothness and uniformity of contour.

The principal object of this invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of panty-hose and of conventional stockings as above outlined, this being attained by the provision of what may be referred to as bifurcated hosiery consisting of a pair of long hose connected together by a crotch member, the hose being of such lengths as to extend to the pubic region above the crotch but below the waist of the wearer. The bifurcated hosiery is adapted to be worn under a girdle-type garment, but unlike panty-hose, it leaves the waist region uncovered for effective supporting contact of the girdle-type garment with the skin.

The girdle-type garment may be a conventional panty girdle with short or long legs, or a bikini style panty girdle having no substantial leg length, but in any event the girdle has the usual crotch piece or crotch portion which underlies the crotch member of the bifurcated hosiery and thereby effectively serves to retain the hosiery in proper position at the crotch. Additionally, a smooth-contoured support for the hosiery is alforded by having the upper edge portion thereof extend into the girdle through the leg openings of the latter, this providing a telescopic effect whereby the entire circumference of the hosiery across the front, around the sides and across the back of the lower abdomen is smoothly held in place by the girdle-type garment and conventionally experienced gapping between the hosiery and the girdle is not possible.

As another of its features, the invention provides means which react between the upper edge portion of the bifurcated hosiery and the inside of the girdle to resist relative displacement thereof, this being supplemental to the aforementioned telescopic or enveloping effect which is afforded by the girdle itself. In one embodiment of the invention such means assume the form of a circumferential elastic friction band which is secured to the upper edge portion of the bifurcated hosiery for frictionally engaging the inside of the girdle along the entire circumference of the torso, such a friction band completely eliminating the use of conventional garters and resisting relative movement of the hosiery and girdle in both circumferential and vertical directions. In another embodiment, the invention provides separable fastener means between the hosiery and the inside of the girdle in the region of the hips, that is, at the outside of the legs in addition to the support .already provided at the crotch as noted above. The separable fastener means may be employed either in substitution foror in addition to the circumferential friction band, as needed for proper suspension of the hosiery by girdles of different structural characteristics, particularly those relating to various lengths of panty leg.

In all embodiments, the bifurcated hosiery and suspenpension means of the invention coact effectively with a conventional girdle-type garment to provide proper support and smooth contour. Moreover, the crotch member of the bifurcated hosiery safeguards the crotch piece of the girdle against soiling and thus the girdle need not be laundered as often as it otherwsie would have to be if its crotch piece-were in contact with the body.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bifurcated hosiery of the invention in position on the wearers body.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a panty girdle worn over the bifurcated hosiery;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that in FIG. 2 but showing a bikini style girdle worn over the hosiery;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the plane of the crotch of the subject in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail showing the friction band on the upper edge portion of the hosiery;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary group perspective view of the separable fastener means on the hosiery andgirdlegand FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional detail showing the friction band and the separable fastener means reacting between the hosiery and the girdle.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the bifurcated hosiery of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. As is best shown in FIG. 1, the same comprises a pair of long hose 12, having their upper edge portions connected together by a crotch member 13, the length of the hose being such as to extend over the pubic region above the crotch, but so that the upper edge 12a of the hose is spaced considerably downwardly from the waist of the wearer. The hosiery may be of any suitable conventional construction, as for example knitted nylon, cotton, fishnet, and the like, and the crotch member 13 may be either formed integrally with the hose, or as a separate component sewed in place. Also, the hosiery may have the same texture throughout, or its upper edge portion may be welted or otherwise reinforced, as is customary in the art.

In any event, the bifurcated hosiery 10 is adapted to be worn with and under a girdle-type garment of a conventional type, as for example a panty girdle 14 with long or short legs as shown in FIG. 2, or a bikini style girdle 14a which has no significant leg length as shown in FIG. 3. However, both styles of the girdle include a crotch portion or crotch piece 15 and, with the hosiery 10 being applied to the body first and the girdle 14 or 14a then superposed thereon, the crotch piece 15 of the girdle underlies the crotch member 13 of the hosiery as will be apparent from FIG. 4, so that the girdle effectively retains the hosiery in proper position at the crotch. Moreover, the upper edge portion of the hosiery extends into the girdle through the leg openings of the latter, thus attaining a telescopic or an enveloping effect whereby the entire circumference of the hosiery across the front, around the sides and across the back of the lower abdomen is smoothly held in place by the girdle with an even contour and without any gapping between the girdleand the hosiery, such as is often experienced with conventional hose suspension. It will be also noted that since the upper edge 12a of the hosiery is spaced considerably downwardly from the waist, the waist region of the abdomen remains uncovered by the hosiery and therefore is in direct skin contact with the waist portion of the girdle for proper support and effective contouring of the torso.

In addition to the hosiery suspension provided at the crotch and by the enveloping effect of the girdle as already explained, the invention provides means for resisting relative displacement between the hosiery and the girdle, both in circumferential and vertical directions, so that possible sagging or twisting of the hose is eliminated.

Such displacement resisting means react between the upper edge portion of the hosiery and the inside of the girdle, and in one embodiment shown in detail in FIG. the means comprise a circumferentially extending, elastic friction band 16 which is stitched to the upper edge of the hosiery and is provided on the outside thereof with one or more circumferentially extending strips 17 of uncovered rubber for frictionally engaging the inside of the girdle 14 around the entire circumference of the lower abdominal region. This frictional engagement is further enhanced by the constricting action of the girdle itself and, as a result, a firm anchorage is obtained to safeguard against possible twisting or sagging of the hosiery.

The use of the friction band 16 in conjunction with the aforementioned support afforded at the crotch may b all that is required for proper suspension of the bifurcated hosiery worn in conjunction with a panty girdle having legs of substantial length, as for example the girdle 14 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. However, depending upon the structural characteristics of the girdle, other displacement resisting means may be utilized, either in addition to or in substitution for the friction band 16. One form of such other means is shown in detail in FIG. 6, the same consisting of a loop 18 which is sewn to the outside of the upper edge portion of the hosiery 12 in the region of the hip, that is, at the outside of the leg as distinguished from the inside crotch, the loop 18 being separably engageable with a hook-like fastener 19 which is secured by a loop 20 to the inside of the girdle 14 or 14a, also in the hip region thereof. Thus, the separable fastener means 18, 19 afford a positive connection of the hosiery to the inside of the girdle in the hip regions for preventing sagging or twisting of the hose. If desired, more than one loop 18 and hook 19 may be provided in each hip region in circumferentially spaced relation to afford suspension at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points. Also, each hip region may be equipped with a single hook for selective engagement with a plurality of vertically and/or circumferentially spaced loops, whereby to provide some adjustment of the points of anchorage. Obviously, the position of the loop and hook may be reversed, that is, by securing the loop 18 to the inside of the girdle and the hook 19 to the hosiery, rather than vice versa, and if the upper edge portion of the hosiery may be of the open mesh or fishnet character, the hook 19 on the inside of the girdle may be engaged selectively with the open mesh of the hose, in which event the loops 18 need not be provided on the hosiery. Similarly, While the friction band 16 has been described as being secured to the hosiery for engagement with the inside of the girdle, the arrangement may be reversed by securing the band to the inside of the girdle for frictional engagement with the hosiery.

In any event, it is to be understood that, depending upon the characteristics of the girdle, the friction band 16 may be used alone, or the separable fastener means 18, 19 may be used alone, or the friction band may be used together with the separable fastener means, as exemplified in FIG. 7, these teachings being applicable to either or both, the regular panty girdle 14 of FIG. 2 and the bikini style girdle of FIG. 3.

It will be also appreciated that in all embodiments of the invention a conventional girdle-type garment may be utilized, and this without the use of conventional garters, so that the smooth contour of the abdomen and thighs is not marred by noticeable bulges, bulkiness and other similar defects which are characteristic of conventional garter suspension.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of bifurcated hosiery comprising a pair of hose having a length sufiicient to extend to the pubic region above the crotch but below the waist of a wearer and a crotch member connecting upper end portions of said hose together, and suspension means comprising a girdle-type garment worn over said bifurcated hosiery, said garment having a pair of leg openings through which the upper end portions of said hose extend into the garment and also having a crotch piece which underlies said crotch member of the bifurcated'hosiery whereby to retain the hosiery in position, said suspension means also including a circumferential elastic friction band reacting between the upper edge portion of said hosiery and the inside of said garment to resist relative displacement thereof.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said band is secured to the upper edge portion of the hosiery and frictionally engages the inside of said garment.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said suspension means also include separable fastener means connecting said hose to the inside of said garment in the region of the wearers hips.

4. For use with a girdle-type garment having a crotch piece, bifurcated hosiery comprising a pair of hose having a length sufiicient to extend to the public region above the crotch but below the waist of a wearer and a crotch member connecting upper end portions of said hose together, said bifurcated hosiery being adapted to be worn under a girdle-type garment with the crotch piece of the garment underlying said crotch member of the hosiery whereby to retain the hosiery in position, and a circumferential elastic friction band secured to the upper edge portion of the hosiery for frictionally engaging the inside of a girdle-type garment.

5. Bifurcated hosiery as defined in claim 4 together with fastener means provided on the upper edge portion of said hose in the region of the wearers hips for separably connecting the same to the inside of a girdle-type garment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,062,596 12/ 1936 Monette. 2,697,925 12/ 1954 Goodman 66-177 3,169,531 2/1965 Grishman 128-528 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,386,250 12/1964 France.

10 JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2-311; 128535 

